2008 Woodie Awards
New major gets approved
University is first in the state to offer a Chinese Studies program for students
By Gabrielle Lyons
Issue date: 9/5/07 Section: News
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Officially approved on July 31 by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the newly formed program has already enrolled approximately 500 students, making it one of the largest programs in the UH Department of Modern and Classical Languages.
"I was so happy when I heard the program was approved through the coordinating board," Director of Chinese Studies Xiaohong Sharon Wen said. "The first instinct (was) now I can tell my students, 'Yes, you can declare your major because so many of them wanted it. Several delayed their graduation, waiting for (a) Chinese major."
UH is the only university in Texas that offers Chinese Studies as a major. Other universities such as the University of Texas or Rice University offer Asian studies with a focus on a particular country, such as China or Chinese languages.
"We are the only university with Chinese Studies," Wen said. "It's very rare."
The program would not have been possible without support from students and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences John Antel, Wen said.
"With the … students being so demanding, (the) Chinese major was established," Wen said. "It was through the efforts of everybody and especially from students, so I'm very grateful to our students."
The curriculum encompasses culture and language while the courses that are offered include Chinese culture through language, history and film.
Chinese Studies also offers study abroad to students, for a five-week summer program in which students visit Beijing, attend classes and trips to different cultural destinations.
"The study abroad in China was at (students') urging so that we would learn in an immersion setting," Wen said.
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